Tuesday, September 2, 2008

From Hankies to Hanky-Panky: Porn and Product Placement

In response to last Friday's post, someone by the name of "Reverend Dick" had this to say:Snob-Why are you advertising an $85 scarf? Product placement takes away from your credibility.

First of all, I resent the implication that I have any credibility. You're just as likely to find credibility on this blog as you are a delicious recipe for cream of mushroom soup. You will, however, find whining, complaining, and criticism. You'll also occasionally find pornography involving bikes:

As usual, I've clothed the model in the interest of propriety, but if for some unimaginable reason you want to look at the original photo (as well as photos of her friends) you are more than welcome to do so. It can be found in this emphatically not-safe-for-work link, which, again, is not safe for work (unless of course you're a pornographer or a gynecologist), and which can be viewed by clicking on the subtly-placed hyperlink after the end of this sentence. (porn)

Or, if you're the artsy (that is to say pretentious) type and you prefer pontification to Fofonov, I'm pleased to present this sepia-toned interpretation of my censored version for your delectation:

Whichever version you prefer, though, I think I speak for all of us when I say it's good to finally see some mountain bike-related porn.

At any rate, with regard to Reverend Dick's mini-sermon, in addition to my lack of credibility I'd also like to say that, while I did post a photograph of myself wearing a scarf that was given to me free of charge, I do not consider that product placement. It's more faux product placement--a parody of a product placement. Had I deftly woven the scarf into last Thursday's story about getting a ticket in exchange for cash ("As I waited for the officer to emerge from the cruiser, I dabbed my perspiring forehead with my Ralpha silk cravat (only $85), and its soft touch removed both the sweat and my cares"), that would be product placement. Real product placement attempts to appear genuine and unintentional.

Of course, that's just my opinion, and sometimes it can be hard to tell product placement from reality. It can also be hard to tell when product placement is intentional or accidental. Here is a good example, forwarded by a reader:

Is this product placement? Is the Great Trek Bicycle Making Company attempting to market itself as the laterally stiff yet vertically compliant truncheon of the law? Is this a subtle ploy to entice customers who fantasize about beating hippies with their bicycles? (If we're to be completely honest here this is a fantasy many of us have had at one time or another.) Even though Trek cannot control the news, they must have known when they supplied bicycles to a police department that at some point one of them would brandish his bicycle at a hippie, right? More importantly, is bicycle-inflicted police brutality even more horrific when the bicycle has riser bars with barends on it? And would it be any less horrific if the hippie were wearing a Rapha silk cravat? These are indeed difficult questions to answer. (Hint: the answers are maybe, no, no, probably, yes, and no.)

It's not a bike for everybody. It's polarizing, I realize that. It also addresses those who have strong opinions. As far as the position goes, it's a lot more comfortable than first impressions. You have to ride it to understand it. Haters'll hate but it's a slick ride.

I'm a hater in general and I hate this bike in particular, yet here I am posting about it for like the third time. So have I unwittingly provided the Great Trek Bicycle Making Company with free product placement? Does it even matter to Trek whether I love or hate the bicycle, as long as a few more people see it? Should I go ahead and send them an invoice? And perhaps most vexing, does simply having a soul patch and flip-flops qualify one to make stylistic decisions of this magnitude?

Well, I don't know, but I do know Trek must be doing something right, because on the very same blog I saw this:

On top of all that, we brought out a straight razor shave for some man-pampering and told anybody that wanted to get tattoo'ed, we'd foot the bill. One condition, your tat must be a Trek logo or the logo of a family brand (Gary Fisher, 1 World 2 Wheels, Bontrager).

Think nobody would want to sport a Trek logo on their body for the rest of their natural life? Think again, Doubty-McHater. We couldn't ink the peeps fast enough. There's nothing worse than telling somebody that they can't get a tat of your company's logo because there just isn't enough time. Left to me, we'd still be applying ink to epidermis in the parking lot but hey, you gotta draw the line somewhere. Give people a reason to come back.

Now that's just scary. Granted, I have my own Trek-related tattoos, but they're only of former Trek family brands. (I have Greg LeMond's face tattooed on one bicep, and the admonishing countenance of paired-spoke pioneer Rolf Dietrich on the other.) Moreover, I paid for them myself, because I'm accountable to nobody. (Except to Greg LeMond, who insisted that my tattoo be of his "good side" before he agreed to sit and pose.) But to have a company's logo tattooed on you just because they paid for it is something else entirely. It's hard to tell if the person in the above photo has any other tattoos, but if so I'm guessing that this may have been one of them:

(submitted by a reader)

Of course, since it's not Trek-related, he would have had to foot the bill himself.

In the end, though, it's all about perception, and one man's product placement is another man's slander. It's all a question of how you manipulate that perception. Even the Vuelta is getting in the act:

Two days before the start of the Vuelta a España, Race Director Víctor Cordero gave his expectations. "This year the Vuelta will be the Tour. It will have the best participation of all three Grand Tours," he said to El Mundo Deportivo.

That's right, the Vuelta is now the Tour. That must mean the Tour is the Giro, the Giro is the Vuelta, and the Bayern-Rundfahrt is just an office park crit in northern New Jersey. And while Tour Giro winner Carlos Sastre might argue this fact, I'm sure Trek and the Astana boys are more than happy to accept it.

But when it comes to marketing, Trek and the Vuelta are a bunch of amateurs compared to pants magnate Michael Ball. He knows a marketing ploy when he sees one. Not only that, but awhile back I noticed he left a comment on my blog, and apparently I'm not just guilty of product placement:

Sure, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking it's not really him, and that anybody can leave a comment as Michael Ball. Well, despite the lack of spelling errors I maintain that it is in fact Michael Ball, if only because Michael Ball leaving a comment on my blog is a dream come true. Also, the comment has that creepy super-villain tone. So please, just let me have that.

"No one would work with me," a disappointed Hincapie said after the race. He said he had the best legs he'd ever had at a Greenville championships. He said he would have preferred another trip over Paris Mountain. "Then we would have had five guys at the end, instead of 25," he said.

Cadel Evans may be the John Coltrane of Excuses, but Hincapie can more than hold his own. By combining two classic yet seemingly incompatible excuses (the "nobody would work with me" excuse and the "race wasn't hard enough" excuse) Hincapie is showing that he is a formidable excuse-maker in his own right. Sure, he's no Coltrane, but his irreverent improvisation at least puts him up there with Ornette Coleman.

Reverend Dick is the offshoot of legendary 90s grunge band Citizen Dick, known for its hit "Touch me, I'm Dick" which - as the lead singer noted - was a complex musical construction that opened itself up to a variety of interpretations.

Ragging on a fancy snot rag does not constitute product placement. Though RTMS inadvertently raised awareness of this product. On the other hand your post about the rag happened to post on the same day that the rag "dropped." Can we expect a BSNYC/Rapha collabo in the near future?

2 Melt butter in (4-5 quart) sauce pan and lightly sauté shallots on medium heat. Add mushrooms, thyme and bay leaf, sauté over moderate heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the liquid that is released from the mushrooms disappears.

So much to comment on, but I just need to say, the only thing better than bikes is naked chicks on bikes. Oh Frilly, tell us you're in that collage of smut.

As for George Hincrashie, excuses reign with him, as he was likely coached by the same Discovery spin doctor as Canadian Micheal Barry, the Cosmo Kramer of pro bike racers who somehow manages to hold down a job in the peloton despite rarely finishing a race without cartwheeling down a mountain, ...perhaps the Evil Knievel of pro cycling.

If there was a shark to jump, George would be the hor d'oeuvres and Mikey the main course.

Michael Leighton: "As it should be! It's strictly a fashion bike for the city. I don't have any allusions of people riding this in their local charity ride or anything like that. We wanted an over the top bike with a pursuit-style geometry. We threw on some some deep dish wheels and hardcase tires to give the bike a little robustness. Japanese track petals are another detail. It's all about the details. It's somebody's 3rd bike. Something for Saturday night."

pursuit style geometry? something for saturday night?

Hmmm... mk... how bout this? I fashion that I'll pursue your fucking douchebag dumb ass come saturday and beat u down with this pos.. coz I fer sure don't have any allusions about riding this in a charity ride or riding it period...just beating your ass with it....coz when it comes to ass and whuppin...it's all about the details u fucking douche.

So have I unwittingly provided the Great Trek Bicycle Making Company with free product placement? Does it even matter to Trek whether I love or hate the bicycle, as long as a few more people see it? Should I go ahead and send them an invoice? And perhaps most vexing, does simply having a soul patch and flip-flops qualify one to make stylistic decisions of this magnitude?

I'm all for naked chicks on bikes, but wouldn't a pantyliner be appropriate to protect the saddle? Or is that the real secret to breaking in a Brooks saddle. I don't know; I'll have to check Sheldon Brown's website.

I find it hard to believe that anybody could actually think that the Snob would intentionally plug a hipster fashion accessory or that Snob has any credibility. I was, however, absolutely certain that somebody would post a recipe for Cream of Mushroom Soup.

Liz - thanks for Homo Nutduster, that is a new one for me. Does your hate apply to solely to the flip-flop/soul patch combo or both independently? Personally, I think it was cool for Frank Zappa but not for many other people.

Commie - George's performance was a little sad this weekend. He had all sorts of fans all over the climb, his name was written on the road every 10 feet (I suspect he did that himself), and the whole town was cheering for him, but still managed to fail. His "nobody would help me out" comment reminds me of Ricco. What kind of douchebag expects competitors to help?

On the other end of the spectrum, I saw at least 5 guys riding up the mountain behind the broom wagon. True competitors in my book.

A Trek tattoo? Just some poseur showing his fleeting dedication to his new vintage steel frame by receiving some minor body art. Myself....I have had four Zertz inserts implanted into my forehead to show my dedication to my ride.

Snob, while out on my training ride yesterday, I passed a stranger on a Serotta, so I decided to the test your theory that only dentists ride Serottas. As I passed, I said "Hi, Doc." Sure enough, he said "Hi" back, trying to figure out where he knew me from, but making no effort to correct me over my salutation. While my sample size is admittedly a little on the small side, I can confirm that 100% of Serotta riders are, in fact, health care professionals.

Again snobby posts about The Great Trek Bicycle Making company, and this at the same time talking about product placement. This only confirms my previous accusations that Snobby is in fact a Great Trek Bicycle Making Company employee and this is a hidden attempt at recreating the bummer life. Snobby you have been had.

seriously... as the economy tanks further and people have less disposable income (err...on their credit cards) the bike fashion trend as well as interest will die down. anyone remember the horrible Vision streetwear fashion trend at the end of the 80s. it also coincided with a bust. give it 6 more months...

Dude, Obama will fix everything. Sure, he has no real ideas, no experience at doing anything, and he's inheriting eight years worth of mess, but he is young and kinda black. According to recent polls , he would lead to a majority rule in Canada if he led either party, which shows that the Canadian electorate watches a lot of TV.

Don't forget that your rise into bicycle stardom will continue to get you invited to bike-related events where you will actually meet the Cadels, Georges, and Michaels of cycling. When they learn who you are, they will remember what you said about them and you will end up like that guy at the Tour of Utah.

There are some cycling stars you don't touch though. You never once made a direct attack on LA despite plenty of opportunities at the opening of Mellow Johnny's. Instead, you butter him up with gifts. Are you hoping he'll write the forward to your book when VeloPress comes through on a deal?

Also, enough with these softball posts! Explain the irony of how you have become the arbiter of taste for that urban cycling culture you deride.

That, and this awesome porn."...that first statement, w/ the long pregnant pause leaves one to wonder just what particular "action" it was that turned you away from the 'other' side (obligatory 'not that there's anything wrong w/ that')...

...but i guess you pulled it off (whoops, sorry !!!) w/ "and this awesome porn"...i mean, naked chicks on bikes may not be politically correct but, like you, i'm good w/ that...

Product placement is mentioning it at all and I'm sure most of us realize that. Much like the Mountain Dew machine that comes alive in Transformers, it is subtle, but it was paid for. I assure you that an aging celebrity would rather be in the tabloids then off the radar altogether and while you may rile their product I'm pretty sure it isn't at the bottom of any of your trashcans. You don't need credibility, just an audience, as Transformers has so aptly proven.

So, poke fun, but I would wager that at least one person with the money to burn saw that scarf for the first time at your blog and purchased it.

So, as far as the company is concerned, they succeeded. You are their shill and that's fine. You don't want credibility? This is the best way to go about it. I'm sure that deflecting with jokes will cause many of your fans to maintain your iconic status in their eyes but, to the marketing people at these companies, you are for sale.

Cheap.

As for the tattoo thing, well, it's sort of a wash. At least those receiving that gift won't claim to be somehow above the implication that they wouldn't have done it on their own dime. You are a temporary version of them. I suppose if they got a tattoo that reads, "TREK SUCKS" that would make the comparison more direct. But in that case, TREK still wins.

I like to think that Hincapie's choice of wheels at the Roubaix was the first step in his becoming one of the more dominating forces in the world of cycling excuses. Realizing once and for all that the probability of him winning without actually putting a good effort in, Hincapie knew that his ticket to cycling fame was to have his name posted by his spectacularly absurd yet intriguing excuses posted, rather than the next to the number "1".

And I like Howard, but he owes his success to his detractors as well as his supporters.

Using phrases like "shill" and "cheap" get a reaction but I want to be clear that it's not what he does that bother's me, but the notion that he isn't doing what he is doing. That he isn't working "for the man". That he isn't part of some marketing plan manipulated by a small piece of cloth.

The only way he can stick his thumb in their face is to burn the scarf and never mention it to anyone. But he is vain, so he can't. He needs material and it must come from somewhere. If it's a slow week of other people sending him stuff to write, there are no pistas on CL, and he hasn't been spat on then what's a little hypocrisy.

Anon 2:11I agree. The worst marketing is the kind that tries to manipulate your consumption without you knowing. But like in the heavy handed politics of an election year, we all know what is going on the whole time. Like you said, the only way to escape it is not to talk about it, and then what would we do for entertainment? Ride bikes?

So the only way to not commit the unexcusable sin of product placement, and therefore not sell out to the man/be a cog in the marketing machine, is to never mention products?

Using that logic, everyone is a product placer/sell out/cog. And since I've never heard anyone say that they are, they must have the notion that they aren't doing it.

That sure makes us all look like a bunch of manipulated idiots. Unless you understand the difference between product placement and a plug, that is. In which case your comments are incorrect and useless.

Actually I do work for Rapha, I'm just pissed that I was passed over in favor of the Snob.

and in doing so I've only made an ass out of myself by purveying the very company I now hate by my derision of the guy that's purveying Rapha's good's via his derision. What can I say, it's just a derision orgy and I got confused?

And much like politics, this type of thing panders to people that this guy would not want to share a room with.

Some of us know what is going on but others vote for a woman just because she's a woman.

Like a radio host whose microphone is much louder than the person calling in so that they can never finish their thought, he got here first and the people who believe there is a destructive force at work are struggling to catch up.

But the fascists on here who resent the right of people to question the ones on the podium are loathed by me and what's wrong with this country.

Did anyone ever see that famous appearance by Jon Stewart on Crossfire? Well, Crossfire is just another example of this kind of hackery, but it does sell commercials and the talking heads do have their wardrobes provided to them even if they believe them to be overpriced and a little tacky.

Cycling is my thing and it's the only reason I write here. But I really believe that this place could be good for the sport. But it won't be. This is the age of infinite memory where you aren't allowed to change your mind, I mean, unless you really want to lose your credibility.

If this whole blog was a joke, and we are supposed to just understand that, then he would not feel the need to apologize or correct himself when he makes mistakes.

But he does.

He can joke all he wants, I promise you, he wants you to take him seriously.

I hate naivety. These big picture people who tell me nothing matters and I should just relax and watch the toilet flush. Go back to your bongs and leave the workings of this world to more capable hands.

"I hate naivety. These big picture people who tell me nothing matters and I should just relax and watch the toilet flush. Go back to your bongs and leave the workings of this world to more capable hands."

I hate idiots who take a small window of the world and equate it with some perceived global problem, without really making sense. Who the hell is naive here? Snobby? His faithful legions of fans? You for thinking about this blog a little too hard while ignoring its purpose/intent?How is naivety related to whatever a "big picture" person may be? Has anyone really ever told you that nothing matters and you should just watch the toilet flush? Go back to our bongs? Is reading this blog while hitting the bong not a possibility? And finally, if you are the "more capable hands", the "workings of this world" are all yours dude. We, the more capable minds, will be more than happy to focus on things we enjoy, like this blog.

BG dubs, that wasn't really you at 4:50pm, was it? I'd be dissappointed. You don't strike me as the fascist 'my way or the highway & you're an a55hole to boot' kind of a guy.

You can like this blog *and* criticize the writer when he f-cks up - the two are not mutually exclusive. (I'm sure the writer is just as sick of the saccharine suck ups as the rest of us.)

This company sent the writer a gift. He displayed it, the company's name and a letter from the company on his blog. I had never heard of the company before that post. I know it now.

So the company sent him a gift hoping to get some cheap advertising. And it worked. And I thought the letter was funny. And the writer's reply was funny, too. But the writer still got used for the company's marketing purposes - sure, he was probably aware of it, but he did get used.

So 2:11 calling him out on getting used is fair game, especially if you're concerned with someone getting used for commercial purposes, or you think not everyone realized that he got used. It was a worthwhile point.

+1 for 2:11.

Me, I don't really care about 'getting used for marketing blah blah,' but I'm kind of bored right now, like different viewpoints, and its annoying to see these persistent knee-jerk reaction to anyone who criticizes anything written on this blog. Especially from a venerable poster such as yourself.

So if that was you, crack open a cold one and call it a day. No worries, we all have off posts.

Hopefully some of the hippies in the picture were cyclists, so they knew which parts of the Trek Po-lice Interceptor to grab in order to fuck them up and render them temporarily unrideable. A rear derailleur cage is a good start.

Then what do we make of Fatty who actually paid a reader $100 for getting the Clydesdale tat.

Not one carbon frame on that site. Thought you said bike porn... now I will have to hit up on Weight Weenies to fofonov.And can Anon 2.11 morph into something else, say given the IQ we are witnessing, Anon 2.12 or John 3.16

speaking of porn and product placement, I think the meaty model's helmet has been placed on her head backwards.

and mark the grammar policeman placing just outside the top 10, I understand what you mean by "as a former law enforcement member", but I still can't shake the idea of "ex cop's penis",somehow related to the proximity of spokes and genitalia in the Trek as trooper's truncheon photo. Perhaps some attention to your own usage is in order, something like "as a former member of the law enforcement community" removes any ambiguity.

Fatty held true to his word and the person with the tattoo asked it to be donated to charity.

About as classy as that exchange could be. I think that FatCyclist is one of the best things going in this community and BS will always be shadowed by him. The guy deserves a Nobel Prize. Such a difference how two people inspire an audience they never thought they would have.

You guys already named me, Anon 2:11 was the first thing I was referenced as here and I wanted people to know it was the same person talking. Downside is other people can pretend to be me but, as we saw earlier, it gets me a cheap laugh once in a while and you all usually seem to tell the difference.

Yes, a grammatical error, I believe Snob was corrected for one as well. But by all means, shit on me.

The difference is, when I get to say I told you so it's because something succeeded but, when you say it, it will be because something failed. So by all means, root for the collapse, then you can hang it up when your knees give and not be leaving as much behind.

Frills,No double standard I was all alone on Weight weenies locked in my mum's basement. And flirting is jst peachie according to the Southern Womens Home Companion, as long as there is a chaperone within hollerin distance and sober

...leroy...bear w/ me & i'll talk over anon 2:11 while he loves himself to death (we can only hope)...

...i grew up singing that "yes, we have no bandanas" song as a kid, although we faultily assumed it was bananas...years later, i get to the left coast & i'm riding w/ a local buddy & he sez "see that old guy, the crossing guard ???...he wrote "yes, we have no bandanas"...coulda knocked me over w/ a banana...

...i have been in the presence of greatness, at least once in my life...i mean other than on this site...

but bong hits and chaos theory have rendered me unable to use a keyboard.... oh fuck, entropy! that is so the worst!but the universe is still expanding anon 2:11... are you participating? i would suggest a mild hallucinogen, because your world view sucks dead animal behind. you need to step up.

Can't attest to the soberness, lots of Bud Light, but there was a crowd. Besides that he's a married man don'tcha know. So there are self-imposed limits to the roadie lust. What do Aussies say, no worries?

To become True Blue you must eat a red hot pie in one hand and skink a tinnie or two of beers in the other and drive a ute ( your pick up trucks). Perhaps you could practice those as males see them as alluring skills that all young frillies should possess

Hootie: What drove you to create the District 96?Michael Leighton: ...we learned from our research that there are a ton of riders out there who place a value on their look and uniqueness...

A ton of riders who place value on their uniqueness? Market research is sooo helpful it makes me want to stick my thumbs in my eyes. I saw Bill Hicks do a standup routine once where he said "So who in the audience is involved in marketing?... ok please do me a favor and kill yourselves. No really, I'm not joking. No punchline. Sorry."

And you communicated your thoughts very well with the b***'s black & chrome paint job. I guess all those years at designer guy art school have paid off!

"It also addresses those who have strong opinions."

see "no brains" photo from same post

"As far as the position goes, it's a lot more comfortable than first impressions."

Yes, but first impressions are important ones. Too bad you can't take a little constructive criticism and look past FGG for your creative ideas.

"You have to ride it to understand it."

I don't want to ride the b***. I know very well that my bikes are faster are more comfortable and handle better than your's ever will. I want take your b*** apart, use the good stuff for myself and recycle that lame attempt to be hip(b*** frame). Finally I would selling the rest on ebay.

"Haters'll hate but it's a slick ride."

Does anyone really say "haters" anymore?

I saw this b*** in person, in Wisconsin. The b*** has NJS cranks and pedals w/formula hubs laced to Velocity rims and no the spokes are not bladed. The handle bars and stem are from Trek's bottom of the line 820 MTB. The carbon fork is from Treks low end MIT WSD 44cm road frame set. To complete the b***'s cheese factor, the frame's rear drop-outs featuring fender and rack eyelets. In person the b*** really looks like the designer needs to go burn one behind the barn before he go's back to the drawing board.

...re: the district 96...ok...it's a "product" w/ a marketing oriented raison d'etre...but, bottom line, pour moi, it's a fucking bicycle...i like all kinds of bikes & personally i happen to like the look, sooooooo...

...it then begs the question, how does it handle ???...does it track straight ???...is it twitchy or stable, despite it's supposed 'pursuit' geometry ???...what about when i stand up & pedal ???...did they cob it together w/ the right or wrong parts ???...

...if all that is good, then the fact that it was designed for people w/out their own imagination doesn't mean squat to me...i'll take it, add a few deft personal touches & it won't matter one iota to me about the disingenuous machinations behind the process of getting it into the hands of the 'great unwashed'...

...bsnyc/rtms...if they offer you one, please ask for a 57mm...that way, if your conscience or the drama queens won't let you ride it in peace & comfort, i'll gladly handle the responsibility...

...& even at my "advanced" age, every one of my bikes is set up w/ high seat & low bars, so i'm good w/ the configuration...

...& while i'm at it, i think it's great that tyler hamilton won the nat's & gets to share that for the next year w/ the man who had faith in him...

...i hate drugs in cycling but hamilton was one of the few guys who bore the brunt for the huge percent of the peloton that 'used'...it was the era & hopefully it's really changing...

...& while micheal ball has said some dumb things (hell, haven't we all) & he's bound to say some more (as i'm sure i will, at least), he's put his money & ideas into a sport that needs fresh people & ideas...

BGW...dude, you cannot support that douche. He's lied since day one, he stole an Olympic medal, he's got a website with more bullshit than anon 2:11 and after his return to racing, he got caught drafting cars at the Tour of Cali.That wanker never rode a clean race in his life.

hey I went to college with the douche with the soul patch and flip flops the answers to the questions show exactly the type of shit they shove down your throat in ID (industrial design) school. what do you expect from people who masturbate to Blade Runner and the 5th Element every night, as they go to sleep.

did anyone else see the minneapolis footage of the large african-american police officer using his trek as a riot shield against anarchists? he would have been better off with a fixed gear. just push forward while turning the back wheel for digit loppin' action!

I have to rant that some scrawny summer-job "bike messenger" was feeling feisty on his last day of work before going back to his suburban college and spitted at me to "enjoy the office" as I sped by him this morning (hard for the little man to go fast without gears and brakes).

Poor guy doesn't know that I actually will enjoy my day at the office, and I'll especially enjoy the vast amounts of money I will earn at my rewarding and challenging job.

I hope he enjoys the 90 degree weather today, the money his parents are pouring into his college fund, and his chosen career as a "bike messenger" competing with homeless guys on stolen mountain bikes, delivering pay checks to me.

You kids are all really quite funny. Tell me, what is the real difference between paying for someone to tattoo their artwork on you, and getting a free tattoo from a bike company?

The way I see it, the big bike company is providing a healthy and clean means of transportation. And by someone getting a tattoo of their logo, they are standing up for the companies values, free or not.

What are the values of your tattoo artist? How is he improving the world? Better yet, what are your values, seeing that you just got branded by someone you don't know?

About Me

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!